Teen Titans #1/2 Review

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Reviewer: Mathan “I’m not good at fractions” Erhardt
Story Title: The Ravager

Written by: Geoff Johns
Penciled by: Ivan Reis
Inked by: Marc Campos
Colored by: Sno Cone
Lettered by: Comiccraft
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Published by: DC Comics/Wizard Entertainment

Well Teen Titans is a hot commodity and Wizard is a comic magazine. Put them together and you get a #1/2 issue. It’s a 1/2 issue in the fact that it isn’t necessary to understand the ongoing, and if you don’t read the issue it won’t detract from enjoying the ongoing. But it does add some interesting information, and puts things in a different light. It’s kind of like dessert; you don’t need it to appreciate the meal, but having it makes things that much better.

The issue begins with a series of flashbacks. We see Slade “Deathstroke” Wilson meeting Lillian, Robin’s parents death, Rose’s training, the death of Slade’s two sons, the “birth” of Superboy, and Deathstroke blowing off Impulse’s kneecap.

Then we go to Chicago where Rose, Deathstroke’s daughter and only living child, is trying to live in the real world with a foster family. She finally admits to having found peace. But that’s short lived as the current Ravager; Wade Defarge kills her new family. It appears that he picked up a contract on her head, but he doesn’t really want the money. He just wants to stick it to Slade, his half brother, so he’s doing it for free. But suddenly it’s Titans to the rescue. The team makes short work of Wade but when they have him pinned down, they find themselves incapacitated by gas from an arrow shot into the house. Everyone blacks out.

They awaken to find Rose and Ravager missing. The team debates on the mental stability of the Wilson clan, with some of the younger heroes believing the family to be bad news, and the older heroes sticking up for the troubled kin. We then find Rose waking up in a warehouse with Deathstroke. Since he’s recently lost Wintergreen he has decided to find a new confidante, and who better than his own blood. She swears her allegiance to him by embracing the Ravager name, which means that Wade has to be taken care of. Back on Titan Island the team tries to put the pieces together. And the story ends with Slade wearing a mischievous grin.

But the issue isn’t done yet. We are then treated to a behind the scenes look at how the comic was produced. Everything from the original cover pitches to a peek at Johns script to the lettering of the book. We also see character designs and a sneak peek at the new DC Direct Titans figures and how they were made.

Johns writes a pretty good story. It’s tough because he has to make it compelling enough to pick up, yet disposable enough not to be vital. He balances like a pro. The story fits nicely between Teen Titans #6 & 7. It provides some good backstory, but again if you don’t read it you won’t be lost.

The story looks good as well. Reis, the current artist on Action Comics, is a rising talent and the action in this book speaks volumes about his work. The scene in the warehouse between Slade and Rose were creepy and cool, and my favorite. That chilling look in the face of Wade when he knows his time is up is a very memorable one. As is the last panel of the story.